Homicide Watch D.C.

UPDATE: The Washington Examiner reports that the victim has been identified by police as Myles McLean.

Reports The Examiner:

At around 4:30 a.m. Wednesday in the 6100 block of Dix Street NE, the victim was approached by two men and words were exchanged, police said. One of the suspects pulled out a handgun and fatally shot the victim, identified by police as Myles McLean, of the Trinidad neighborhood in Northeast Washington.

Capt. Michael Farish, head of the homicide branch, said the exchange was brief and there was no announcement of a robbery and nothing mentioned about sexual orientation.

WJLA and the Washington Times are reporting that a shooting early this morning in Northeast D.C. has claimed one life.

Sixth District Commander. Robert J. Contee, III sent a message to the police district listserve about the shooting at about 4:30 a.m. He said:

The Sixth District is currently investigating a shooting in the 6100 Block of Dix St. N.E.

Anyone with information should call 1-888-919-CRIME or text information to 50411.

WJLA and the Washington Times are reporting that the victim is a transgendered person. Mayor Vincent Gray commented on the crime at a press conference today. From the Washington Times:

“Every homicide in the District of Columbia is a tragedy for which the perpetrators must be brought to swift justice,” said Mayor Vincent C. Gray. “However, if the investigation concludes that this shooting was the result of bias based on sexual orientation or gender identity, [the Metropolitan Police Department] and my administration will … see that there is an appropriate response to this kind of violence, which cannot be tolerated.”

Read more from the Mayor’s office here.

A DC Alert for the shooting went out early this morning.